The Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) says there appears to be a shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) medication for persons living with HIV and AIDS and has urged the Ministry of Health to ensure that adequate inventory-management measures are in place.

In a letter addressed to Dr Kevin Harvey, senior medical officer at the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme, Stacy-Ann Jarrett, executive director of JASL, sought the reassurance that all measures were being implemented to ensure continued and reliable access to ARVs for persons living with HIV.

Simple investigation

Jarrett said she had received four calls from pharmacies over the past month, enquiring whether JASL stocks ARV medication.

"As the issue of adherence and subsequently quality of life directly impacts our clients, this concern prompted a simple investigation as to availability of such drugs," said Jarrett.

She pointed out that a representative from the Health Corporation Ltd informed JASL that ARVs for second-line treatment, namely Combivir and Truvada, were consistently out of stock.

Jarrett said she was informed that although reports on stock levels were forwarded to the National HIV Programme regularly, there has been a noted shortage of ARVs on numerous occasions and a situation of expiration of ARVs due to lack of request for use or subscription.

Unable to confirm shortage

When contacted yesterday, Verna Edwards, president of the Pharmaceu-tical Society of Jamaica, said she was unable to confirm whether there was, in fact, a shortage of ARVs.

Harvey told The Gleaner that there may have been a shortage of ARVs last November, but as far as he was aware, all types of ARVs were now available on the market.

He said the health ministry purchased ARVs worth $2 million recently.

Jamaica last year signed a new grant agreement for US$44 million (J$3.1 billion) from the Global Fund for the next five years. This grant is slated for purchasing ARVs, among other things.

The health ministry estimates that there are 27,000 Jamaicans living with HIV or AIDS and 18,000 are believed to be unaware of their status.

It is estimated that 4,000 to 6,000 persons are in need of ARV therapy.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com